Commerce of China
China Repository
The Unionist 1833-09-05
Unionist content
Transcription
COMMERCE OF CHINA. For more than a century past, almost the whole of European trade has been restricted to Canton and Macao. But it was not always so. At different times during the reign of the Ming dynasty, the ports of Ningpo and Chusan in Chekeang, and the port of Amoy in Fuhkeen, were opened to Europeans, and became large marts for their commerce. Kanghe in the twenty third year of his reign opened all the ports of his empire, and allowed a free trade to his own subjects and to all foreign nations. This regulation continued in force for about thirty years. But at length it was argued against this regulation, that foreigners and adventurous Chinese who were living abroad would improverish the country by exporting large quantities of rice! For this, or some other reasons equally cogent, foreign trade was restricted; the emigration of natives and the ingress of foreigners, were prohibited; and, if we mistake not, the building of vessels on the European model was likewise interdicted. — Chinese Rep.
About this Item
The Chinese Repository was a periodical published in Canton, China, from 1832-1851, by Protestant missionaries. It is the site of a transcription project on Wikisource: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Chinese_Repository - for the avid scholar!
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See Full Metadata Hide Full MetadataCover Page to the first volume of The Chinese Repository
